We've been fans of Distillery No. 209 gin for a long time now, but when we went to visit their facility recently and walked into a room throbbing with the beats of Lil' Wayne, we knew that this is a relationship built to last. Of course, hip hop isn't usually blasting through the distillery. It was a packing day and the mood was especially festive. When there are hundreds of bottles to fill for a gin-thirsty nation, you've got to crank the tunes a tad.
Distillery No. 209 gin is located in San Francisco on Pier 50 in Mission Bay. For such a popular gin, the production space is compact. But then again, it's a small-batch spirit that prides itself on quality, not quantity. The tanks fit under the roof, the herbal room is air-tight, and the staff is passionate about their product. What more do you need?
Wendi, who started as an intern and is now the marketing and brand manager, was gracious enough to give me a tour and a deeper history of the brand. She also shared some amazing gin punch that I had to force myself to sip. It was seriously amazing.
No. 209 is known as a modern gin, meaning that the taste of juniper won't jump out of the glass and bite you. It's beautifully balanced and flavorful in a way that we've come to expect from gin this century. Awesome in a classic martini or gin and tonic, this gin is also delicious in cocktails that you might be accustomed to drinking with vodka, rum, or even tequila.
Give a bottle a try if you haven't already, and let us know what you think. We have a hunch that you'll like it.
